Twenty-two cases of leprosy were recorded in Namibia in 2016, health minister Bernard Haufiku said Thursday.

Haufiku said this in his speech to mark the World Leprosy Day at an event held at Ongwediva, about 750 kilometers from capital Windhoek.

Although the Leprosy Day is held on the last Sunday of January every year, Namibia's had a delayed ceremony.

Namibia has been providing leprosy treatment for free, with the technical help of the Leprosy Mission International since 2008 when the country came up with strategies of how to fight.

According to Haufiku, those suffering from leprosy are still being stigmatized and discriminated against.

In most parts of Africa, the minister said, people who suffer from leprosy are viewed as cursed.

The minister further said in some instances, leprosy sufferers are not allowed to collect water from the common well.

source: Xinhua